We never said we wouldn't! GBRf 20 is ON!

摘要

When 73107 Tracy and 73141 Charlotte arrived at Paddington late into the evening of September 23, 2018 on the final leg of GB Railfreight's four-day GBRf 2018 charity fundraising charter, the question asked was, "will there be another trip like it?" At the time, organisers Paul Taylor, Dale Williams and Ian Grey were reluctant to commit to anything. However, they knew things others didn't. There certainly wasn't going to be a GBRf 19, but they also said "never say never" to the prospect of another mammoth charter of this kind happening again. GBRfl8 raised more than £145,000 for good causes - Headway and Macmillan Cancer Support. Late in 2018 a much-admired GBRf colleague, Des O'Brien, passed away at relatively short notice having suffered an aggressive stomach cancer. Des was not only a big personality within the Control Office at GBRf, but a huge supporter of the Charity Trains and he and his wife Sue regularly helped out on many of them, so nominating a cancer charity was most appropriate. As well as supporting charity, the event generated unquantifiable good PR for GB Railfreight, while delivering great days out for everyone on board. So it's understandable why another such train would be a winner. But not long after GBRfl8, Dale departed the GBRf team to move abroad, while Paul had some health issues of his own to overcome. Even Ian had to endure the challenge that is moving house! Also, there was the need, and desire, not to do too much of a good thing, and a GBRf charity charter of that magnitude is not somethingyou can really do every year. Every couple of years is a good timescale, it allows the organisers to keep things fresh, and also to plan a great trip that will appeal to the public.